Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can aid in preventing or reducing the development of the disease. It is important to understand the symptoms so you can tell whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or aren’t able to utilize it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high in time. This can cause issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over several months or even years, eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to maintain their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and the kidneys aren’t able get rid of it properly.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is typically because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters per day.
Men may also shed weight as their bodies rely on muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might need to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks often have plenty of sugar which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These medications are usually combined with lifestyle changes, like eating habits and physical activity to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled by one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you choose the best medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.